The Cougars got back in action for the spring season Thursday night beating the Eastern Washington University Eagles 3-0 in their first game of 2026.
The game itself ran a little differently than a typical soccer game, playing a trio of 30-minute periods, rather than the typical 45-minute halves. Additionally, due to inclement weather, the game was moved from Lower Soccer Field to the indoor Taylor Sports Complex. The field there is 10 yards narrower than a typical field.
Despite this, the team was still able to perform well, with the defense locking down the Eagles, and the offense being finding the back of the net three times. Head coach Chris Citowicki was surprised with how well his team played given the shorter field.
“So considering the field was so narrow, I thought the game would be tighter and yet, for us to be able to find the gaps we were finding and do what we did, I thought was pretty impressive,” Citowicki said.
The Cougs kept knocking on the door for all three periods, drawing four corner kicks. WSU also had three goal scoring opportunities called back due to offside calls. There were also multiple shots that went wide right of goal.
Offensively, freshman Kalia Franklin led the way for the Cougs, scoring two of three goals for the Cougars. Her first goal came early in the second period where she was able to collect a loose ball and took a shot from 18 yards out. Franklin’s shot came from the right of the box and curved just past the reach of the Eagles goalkeeper, landing in the back of the net.
Her second goal came in the third period when she scored on a breakaway goal. Collecting a loose ball, she dribbled the ball about 10 yards upfield and kicked it just over the head of the Eagles goalkeeper to find the back of the net.
The first goal on the night was scored by redshirt freshman Rhen Ericson, early into the first half. Her goal was scored from a shot on the right side of the field that was taken off of her right foot and snuck just under the crossbar.
On the defensive end, WSU played on lockdown, ending the three periods with a shutout. The Cougs started a new goalkeeper at the start of each period.
Riley Carolan shined on the backline for the Cougs, seeing action in all three periods. Carolan made two key clearances on Eagles set pieces, as well as making a block that prevented a goal for the Eagles.
A total of 17 of the 28 players got their first action in Crimson and Gray Thursday night.
“Its been a long nine weeks, to be honest practicing against ourselves and the men’s club team, Citowicki said. “There’s a group that transferred from Montana, a group that was left over and we’ve been trying to bring it together. To see a unified team play against somebody else… there’s nothing better.”
